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City slumlord who fled to Canada admits fraud, witness tampering, faking law degree

Updated on February 8, 2017 at 2:02 PMPosted on February 8, 2017 at 9:59 AM

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Alexander March, 34, and his wife, Sima March, 35, a Syracuse couple who fled to Canada after being indicted on mortgage fraud charges five years ago, surrendered Tuesday Sept. 20, 2016 at the Canadian border. They were arraigned in Onondaga County Court.
(Provided photos)

Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse couple who bought dilapidated properties and then lied to banks to get refinanced mortgages pleaded guilty today for their roles in the scheme.

Alexander and Sima March will be required to repay $127,123.49 stolen in the fraud.

Alexander March, 34, faces up to six months in jail and five years on probation, but could avoid jail all together. His wife, Sima, 35, will have no further punishment after pleading guilty to a felony.

County Court Judge Thomas J. Miller approved the plea deal; the state Attorney General's Office had been asking for state prison.

Here's how the scheme worked: The couple would buy dilapidated homes using cash. Alexander March would put tenants in the properties and then make false claims of assets to obtain new mortgages. He told Syracuse Common Councilors in 2008 that he fixed up the properties; city officials disputed that.

The Marches fled to Canada in 2011 after a grand jury indicted them for the mortgage scheme. They remained there for five years as authorities held extradition proceedings.

Alexander March was later charged with teaming up with New York City lawyer Jon Lefkowitz in an attempt to discredit witnesses who testified against him in the 2011 grand jury. That led to a new witness tampering indictment.

As part of the witness tampering, Alexander March also claimed to be a lawyer in Lefkowitz's law firm. He even created a fictitious lawyer, Steven Sanchez.

The Marches surrendered themselves at the Canadian border in September 2016. They were released on bail as the case continued.

Today, Alexander March pleaded guilty to 32 crimes relating to the mortgage fraud and his attempt to discredit witnesses.

March demanded witnesses sign affidavits and answer questionnaires that would discredit their previous sworn testimony. The NYC lawyer, Lefkowitz, has previously admitted to helping create a fake court order that compelled the witnesses to fill out the bogus questionnaires.

Sima March pleaded guilty to a single count of falsifying business records.